Lighting fixture construction



NOV. 3, 1942. A@ R HEDGES 2,300,504'1 LIGHTING F-IXTURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Maren :27,v '1941 3 sheets-sheet 1 N ov 3,'1942. A. R. Hl-:DGES

LIGHTING FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION Filed March 27.' 1941 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Nov. 3, 1942. K

. A. R. HEDGES LIGHTING FIXTURE CONSTRUS'IIONv Filed March 27. 1941 3 sheets-Sheet s Patented Nov. 3, 1942 LIGHTING FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION Albert R. Hedges,rArlington Heights, Ill., assignor to Benjamin Electric Mfg. Company, Des Plaines, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 27, 1941, Serial No. 385,457

3 Claims.

cess to the interior thereof by simple bodily` movement of a portion of said xture and may be returned to condition for use by simple bodily return movement of this same portion of the fixture.

An important feature of the present invention is the particular way in which it is adapted to use in conjunction with the modern streamlined lighting constructions now highly favored and extensively employed. This adaptability is an incident of the virtual elimination of all outwardly protruding bolts, nuts, and fastening means and even to the substantial elimination of rivet heads and the like whereby there is provided an exceptionally clean, unmarred and unbroken exterior, much to be desired in the modern design.

The particular construction whereby the globe of the fixture in the present invention is secured in readily removable engagement with the usual canopy or xture hood employs a minimum of parts to get out of order and includes a novel globe supporting arrangement by which the globe is securely and tightly held in all of its positions.

A feature of the present invention is the provision -of a yielding means which secures the fixture, globe and associated parts in close engagement with the hood, but which may be operated by bodily movement of the globe member to release the latching tension which secures the globe in place.

The present invention is not to be 'limited to the particular embodiments illustrated but may be applied to numerous types of xture constructions wherein it is desired to accomplish the objects of the present invention.

Other objects and advantages `will hereinafter more fully'be 4described and for a complete understanding of the nature, scope and characteristics of this invention' reference may now be had to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in'which latter Fig. 1 is a side elevation 'partly in section through a lighting 'fixture construction embodying the present invention and showing indotted line'sthe position of the parts when the fixture is open for access into its interior;

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to the View of Fig. 1 and showing the partsv in assembled position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view looking down on the fixture from above and with the canopy and light source removed; Y

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal side elevation of an other embodiment of the present invention wherein it is shown applied to a uorescent lighting fixture;

Fig. 5 is a transverse view, partially incrosssection, of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view partially in section of the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and showing the lens and lens supporting means distended;

f Fig. '7 is a detailed perspective of a portion of the lens supporting means; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional axial vview of the arm shown in Fig. '7.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in the embodiment illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3, the present invention is shown applied to an overhead ceiling lighting xture construction wherein a canopy I houses the usual light socket 2 and electric light bulb 3. However, lthe usual glass light diffusing globe 4 is here shown provided with a reector member 5 to which the globe 4 is secured in a manner hereinafter described in detail.

The globe 4 and reector 5 are suspended and secured by an extensible and contractible arrangement comprising link arms, springs, and the like, whereby, whenthe globe 4 is grasped and pulled downwardly with sufficient force, the toggle joint formed by said links and springs is altered to permit the globe and rellector to be suspended from the extensible depending means in the manner shown in dotted lines-in Fig. 1. A sealing gasket 4a may be provided as shown.

The toggle arrangement comprises link arms 6-6 and 1-1 pivoted at 8 to a pair of spaced upright supporting straps 9 which at their lower ends are connected to a small reflector I0 and at their upper ends engage the fixture canopy supporting assembly adjacent the ceiling. The link arms 6 6 and T T extend oppositely of each other in pairs and at their outer ends encircle an intermediate portion of U-shaped arms Il and l2, respectively. It will readily be seen that, when distended, the parts form a toggle joint. The knees of these toggles maybe interconnected by means of suitable springs I3 and connecting links 14, whereby movement cfsaid knees beyond the hinged ends of the arms serves to induce a toggle action in the parts.

With the construction thus far described, it will be apparent that, after a partial movement of the globe and globe holding assembly, the knees of the toggle joint will move past the center line of the link arms and thereafter further movement will not only be unresisted but will be aided by the action of the springs.

The present invention also includes a new and novel means for engaging and supporting the light diffusing globe and includes the large reector 5 which has a plurality of peripherally spaced raised extensions l5, to which may be Secured a retaining ring l5 after the light diffusing globe has been positioned in place. y

The reflector 5 is preferably provided with oppositely disposed flattened portions I1 on its periphery by which a suiciently narrow reflector portion is provided so that the entire reflector may be tipped on edge and pass through the usual large opening in the top of the globe, being then positioned in the plane of the mouth of the globe and adjacent the lo-wer edge so that the globe is suspended therefrom. `'Thereafter the retaining ring I6 may be applied toi the reflector and secured thereto by means of screws I8 which enter threaded holes in the extensions l5.

It will be noted that, with the above method of securing the globe in place, the globe will be grasped with an evenly distributed pressure.

The central opening I9 of the reector 5 is of suicient size to permit the passage therethrough of the largest electric light bulb to be employed in the fixture, and the small reflector l0 is of sufficient size to substantially lll this opening and complete the reiiector portion when the parts are assembled.

A different embodiment of the above-described invention is disclosed in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, wherein the invention is shown applied to a fluorescent lighting fixture of the usual elongated trough-like shape. In this embodiment, the usual elongatedcanopy 2b is secured at each end to divisible cast end members which are preferably composed of two interfitting parts 2l and 22, the upper of which is secured to the canopy. These upper end members may be provided with inwardly extending lugs 23 to which an inverted dished trough-like reflector member 24 may be secured as by screws 25. This reector is provided adjacent each end with the usual fluorescent tube'sockets 28 which engage and support therebetween the usual fluorescent tube shown in dotted lines. The lower portion 22 of the cast end members may be provided with an upwardly projecting central tongue 2l adapted to engage with a companion notch 28 in the upper Vend plate and assure proper registry of the respective parts. These lower end members 22 supportan elongated light diffusing lens 22a which is bodily movable therewith. The lower cast end plates 22 may be suspended by arms 29 of suitable strap material, and when it is desired to gain access to the interior of said fixture for servicing, cleaning, change of uorescent light tubes, or the like, the entire lens assembly is bodily pulled down and hangs by these arms.

More specifically, the arms 29 are constructed as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and` comprise a strap member 3B pivoted at 3l to the inside of a cast end plate 2l, and provided at the oppositeend wit-ha keyhole shaped bayonet slot 3 2 into which a headed rivet 33 is inserted. This rivet is mounted on the projecting portion 21 of the lower cast end member 22.

Secured to the same pivot 3| is a keeper strap 34 which is adapted to swing into a position parallel to the cover support strap and, when the headed rivet 33 has been inserted into the bayonet slot 32 and moved to the narrow portion thereof, the keeper strap may be swung into position to securely retain the headed rivet in the narrow portion of the keyhole slot.

An embossment 35 may be provided adjacent the lower end of this keeper strap and when it is swung into parallel position with the cover support strap this embossment snaps into the upper end of the keyhole slot to retain the straps in alignment.

As shown in the drawings, a notch 36 is provided intermediate the ends of this keeper strap and permits the passage of a central rivet 31 to which a resilient tension spring 38 is secured.

As lin the previously described embodiment, this construction is such that, after a partial movement of the parts into closed and assembled position, the lineof tension of the spring 38 swings past the pivot point 3| and the spring thereafter draws the arm and cover lens assembly up into firm engagement with the fixed portion of the xture. Ready access to the bulb and the inside of the lens portion is provided by the above construction and, should it be desired to gain access to the inside of the canopy as to a ballast 39 or the wires which connect these parts, this can readily be achieved by removal of the long screws 25, after which the entire reector and associated parts and accessories, such as the ballast, sockets, and the like, can be withdrawn from the canopy.

When reinstalling this assembly, the reflector and its accessories may rst be suspended from the canopy by the long screws 25. This leaves a gap between the parts through which the necessary wires may be drawn. The wires may then be spliced to the line wires, or the like, as desired and may then be tucked into place and the screws 25 drawn up tightly.

It is intended, of course, that the invention should not be limited to the speciiic embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein, since modifications may be made, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any s'uclr modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to: be secured by Letters Patent is: v

l. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a fixed canopy unit and means for supporting a light source, of a light-controlling bowl unit bodily movable into and out of engagement with respect to said rst unit, and means for supporting said bowl unit in suspended position below andA disengaged from said canopy unit, guiding it in its movement from disengaged to engaged position and holding it in engaged position, comprising a swingably mounted link mechanism having one end directly pivotally connected with the canopy unit to swing about an Vaxis fixed with respect to saidl canopy and link mechanism and the other end directly `pivotally connected with the bowl unit to swing about an axis 4fixed with respect to the bowl, and aV swingably mounted coil tension spring having at least one end directly pivotally connected with said link mechanism. the axis of which spring is movable past the dead center line of the link mechanism in moving the bowl from disengaged to engaged position, whereby, in engaged position, the spring will hold the bowl unit snugly in engagement with the canopy unit.

2. In a lighting xture, the combination With a xed canopy unit and means for supporting a light source, of a light-controlling bowl unit bodily movable into and out of engagement With respect to said rst unit, and means for supporting said bowl unit in suspended position below and disengaged from said canopy unit, guiding it in its movement from disengaged to engaged position and holding it in engaged position, comprising a pair of links each having one end directly pivoted to the canopy unit, a pair of links each having one end directly pivoted to the bowl unit and its other end pivotally connected to one of said rst pair of links, and spring means connected with said links and urging the connections between the linkstoward each other when the bowl unit is in engaged position, the bowl unit engaging links being movable past the deadcenter line of the spring in moving into and out of engaged position.

3. In a lighting fixture, the combination with a xed canopy unit and means for supporting a light source, of a light-controlling bowl unit bodily movable into and out of engagement with respect to said rst unit, and means for supporting said bowl unit in suspended position below and disengaged from said canopy unit, guiding it in its movement from disengaged to engaged position and holding it in engaged position, com- -prising a pair of links each having one end directly pivoted to the canopy unit, a pair of links each having one end directly pivoted to the bowl unit and its other end pivotally connected to one of said first pair of links, and spring means connected with said links and urging the connections between the links toward each other when the bowl unit is in engaged position, the bowl unit engaging links being movable past the deadcenter line of the spring in moving into and out of engaged position, each of said links comprising a pail` of arms arranged substantially in bilateral symmetry with respect to a plane through the axis of the canopy unit and bowl unit.

ALBERT R. HEDGES. 

